Emboldened by assurances received after his visit last week to the Presidential Villa that the presidency would end EFCC inquiries into suspected money laundering crimes now under investigation, embattled speaker Dimeji Bankole has upped his challenge to the EFCC, demanding details of their inquiry in advance, SaharaReporters has learned.

He made his visit to the Presidential Villa in the company of Senate President David Mark , sources said.

Bankole is demanding to know specific details of the money laundering investigation in advance of his interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

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$1 Billion Dollar Scam: Speaker Bankole Demands Details Of EFCC Inquiry In Advance
Posted: June 2, 2011 - 01:30
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caption: Dimeji Bankole
By SaharaReporters, New York
Emboldened by assurances received after his visit last week to the Presidential Villa that the presidency would end EFCC inquiries into suspected money laundering crimes now under investigation, embattled speaker Dimeji Bankole has upped his challenge to the EFCC, demanding details of their inquiry in advance, SaharaReporters has learned.

He made his visit to the Presidential Villa in the company of Senate President David Mark , sources said.

Bankole is demanding to know specific details of the money laundering investigation in advance of his interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.


Last week, Bankole obtained a reschedule of the date of interrogation, fixed for last Thursday, after he had the Clerk of the House request a new date from the EFCC. Dimeji claimed to be tied up with inauguration activities.

The letter to the EFCC was written in the name of Bankole's chief of staff, Maurice Ekpeyong but incongruously, it was signed by another person on Ekpenyong's behalf.

Law enforcement officials at the anti-graft agency told SaharaReporters that they are under no legal obligation to discuss with Mr. Bankole his offenses in advance. Since he was asked to appear before the EFCC to answer to petitions written against him, he should honor the invitation without delay. A full description of his offenses, if any, will be made if it is decided to charge him for those crimes, they said.

Some members of the EFCC investigation team expressed dismay at Bankole's unorthodox behavior which, they said, had increased because of the protection he continues to enjoy from the president's office.

The outgoing Speaker is said to have diverted funds into the account from budgetary allocations to the House of Representatives and has an eye-popping $1 billion laundered through domiciliary accounts at the United Bank of Africa .

Meanwhile, Speaker Bankole continues to publicly attack the EFCC, most recently accusing them of “sensational prosecution and conviction on the pages of newspaper on an issue as grave as corruption.”